tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第7章
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the incidents of the previous night。 In the first place he could not exactly
understand them； and he wanted to devote more time to thinking of them；
before he mentioned the matter to his parent。 Another reason was that Mr。
Swift was a very nervous person； and the least thing out of the ordinary
worried him。 So the young inventor concluded to keep quiet。
His first act； after going to look at the small motor； which was being
run with the larger； experimental storage battery； was to get out pencil and
paper。
〃I've got to plan the electric auto now that my battery is in a fair way
to success；〃 he said； for he noted that the one cell he had constructed had
done over twice as much mileage in proportion； as had the small battery。
〃I'll soon start building the car；〃 mused Tom； 〃and then I'll enter it in the
race。 I must write to that touring club and find how much time I have。〃
All that morning the young inventor drew plan after plan for an
electric runabout； and rejected them。 Finally he threw aside paper and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
pencil and exclaimed：
〃It's no use。 I can't think to…day。 I'm dwelling too much on what
happened last night。 I must clear my brain。
〃I know what I'll do。 I'll get in my motor…boat and take a run over to
Waterfield to see Mr。 Damon。 Maybe he's home by this time。 Then I can
ask him what Mr。 Foger wanted to see him about； if he did call。〃
It was a fine May morning； and Tom was soon in his boat； the Arrow；
gliding over Lake Carlopa； the waters of which sparkled in the sun。 As he
speeded up his craft； the lad looked about； thinking he might catch sight of
Andy Foger； for the bully also owned a boat； called the Red Streak and；
more than once； in spite of the fact that Andy's craft was the more
powerful； Tom had beaten him in impromptu races。 But there was no sign
of his rival this morning； and Tom kept on to Waterfield。 He found that Mr。
Damon had not yet returned home。
〃So far I've had my run for nothing；〃 mused the youth。 〃Well； I might
as well spend the rest of the morning in the boat。〃
He swung his craft out into the lake； and headed back toward
Mansburg； intending to run up to the head of the body of water； which
offered so many attractions that beautiful morning。
As Tom passed a small dock he saw a girl just putting out in a rowboat。
The figure looked familiar and； having nothing special to do； the lad
steered over closer。 His first view was confirmed； and he called out
cheerfully：
〃Good morning； Miss Nestor。 Going for a row？〃
〃Oh！ Mr。 Swift！〃 exclaimed the girl with a blush。 〃I didn't hear you
coming。 You startled me。〃
〃Yes； the engine runs quite silently since I fixed it；〃 resumed Tom。
〃But where are you going？〃
〃I was going for a row；〃 answered the girl； 〃but I have just discovered
that one of the oar locks is broken； so I am not going for a row；〃 and she
laughed； showing her white； even teeth。
〃That's too bad！〃 remarked the lad。 〃I don't suppose；〃 he added
doubtfully； 〃that I could induce you to accept a motor…boat as a substitute
for a rowing craft； could I？〃 and he looked quizzically at her。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Are you asking me that as a hypothetical question？〃 she inquired。
〃Yes；〃 said Tom； trying not to smile。
〃Well； if you are asking for information； merely； I will say that I could
he induced to make such a change；〃 and her face was nearly as grave as
that of the young inventor's。
〃What inducement would have to be used？〃 he asked。
〃Suppose you just ask me in plain English to come and have a ride？〃
she suggested。
〃All right； I will！〃 exclaimed the youth。
〃All right； then I'll come！〃 she retorted with a laugh； and a few minutes
later the two were in the Arrow； making a pretty picture as they speeded
up the lake。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER VI
BUILDING THE CAR
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to himself； about two hours later； when he had
left Mary Nestor at her dock； and was on his way home； 〃I feel better than
I did； and now I must do some hard thinking about my runabout。 I want to
get it the right shape to make the least resistance。〃 He began to make some
sketches when he got home； and at dinner he showed them to his father
and Mr。 Sharp。 He said he had gotten an idea from looking at the airship。
〃I'm going to make the front part； or what corresponds to the engine…
hood in a gasolene car； pointed；〃 he explained。 〃It will be just like the
front of the aluminum gas container of the airship； only built of steel。 In it
will be a compartment for a set of batteries； and there will be a searchlight
there。 From the top of some supporters in front of the two rear seats； a
slanting sheet of steel will come right down to meet the sloping nose of the
car。 First I was going to have curtains close over the top of the driver's seat；
but I think a steel covering； with a celluloid opening will be better and
make less wind resistance。 I'll use leather side curtains when it rains。
Under the front seats will be a compartment for more batteries； and there
will be a third place under the rear seats； where I will also carry spare
wheels and a repair kit。 The motors will be slung under the body of the car；
amidships； and there will also be room for some batteries there。〃
〃How are you going to drive the car？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。 〃By a shaft？〃
〃Chain drive；〃 explained Tom。 〃I can get more power that way； and it
will be more flexible under heavy loads。 Of course it will be steered in the
usual way； and near the wheel will be the starting and reversing levers； and
the gear handle。〃
〃Gears！〃 exclaimed the aged inventor。 〃Are you going to gear an
electric auto？ I never heard of that。 Usually the motor directly connected is
all they use。〃
〃I'm going to have two gears on mine；〃 decided Tom。
〃That's a new idea；〃 commented the aeronaut。
〃It is；〃 admitted the lad； 〃and that's why my car is going to be so
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
speedy。 I'll make her go a hundred miles an hour； if necessary！〃
〃Nonsense！〃 exclaimed his father。
〃I will！〃 cried the young inventor； enthusiastically。 〃You just wait and
see。 I couldn't do it but for the gears； but by using them I'll secure more
speed； especially with the big reserve battery power I'll have。 I know I've
got the right idea； and I'm going to get right to work。〃
His father and Mr。 Sharp were much interested； and closely examined
his sketches。 In a few days Tom had made detailed drawings； and the aged
inventor looked at them critically。 He had to admit that his son's theory
was right； though how it would work out in practice was yet to be
demonstrated。 Mr。 Swift offered some suggestions for minor changes； as
did Mr。 Sharp； and the lad adopted some of them。 Then； with Mr。 Jackson
to help him； work was started on constructing the car。
Certain parts of it could be better purchased in the open market instead
of being manufactured in Mr。 Swift's shop； and thus Tom was able to get
his new invention into some sort of shape sooner than would otherwise
have been the case。 He also started making the batteries； many of which
would be needed。
Gradually the car began to take form on the floor of Tom's shop。 It was
rather a curious looking affair； the sharp forward part making it appear like
some engine of war； or a projectile for some monster gun。 But Tom cared
little for looks。 Speed； strength and ease of control were the chief features
the lad aimed at； and he incorporated many new ideas into his electric car。
He was busy in the shop； one morning； when； above the noise caused
by filing a piece of steel he heard some one exclaim：
〃Bless my gizzard！ If you aren't as busy as ever！〃
〃Mr。 Damon！〃 cried Tom in delight。 〃When did you get back？〃
〃Last night；〃 replied the eccentric man。 〃My wife and I stayed longer
than we meant to。 And whom do you think we met when we were off on
our little trip？〃
〃Some of the Happy Harry gang？〃
〃Oh no。 You'd never guess； so I'll tell you。 It was Captain Weston。〃
〃Indeed！ And how has he been since he went in the submarine with us；
and helped recover the gold from the wreck？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Very well。 The first thing he said to me was： 'How is Tom Swift and
his father； if I may be permitted to ask？'〃
〃Ha！ Ha！〃 laughed the lad； at the recollection of the odd sea captain；
who generally tagged on an apologetic expression to most of his remarks。
〃He was getting ready to take part in some South American
revolution；〃 went on Mr。 Damon。 〃He used most of his money that he got
from the wreck to help finance their cause。〃
〃I must tell Mr。 Sharp；〃 went on the lad。 〃He'll be interested。〃
〃Anything new since I've been away？〃 asked the odd man。 〃Bless my
shoe laces； but I'm glad to get back！〃
Tom told of the prospect of a new bank being started； and of Sam's
midnight visit； as well as the encounter with Mr。 Foger and Andy。
〃I went over to see what Mr。 Foger wanted of you；〃 went on the young
inventor； 〃but you weren't home。 Did he call？〃
〃The servant said he had been there； not once； but several times；〃
remarked Mr。 Damon。 〃That reminds me。 He left a note for me； and I
haven't read it yet。 I'll do so now。〃
He tore open the letter； and hastily perused the contents。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed。 〃So that's what he wanted to see me about！〃
〃What？〃 inquired Tom； with the privilege of and old friend。
